Hockey – ITA v CAN

==4:08am PST 0/0
Italy confronts Canada on the ice in Men’s Ice Hockey, Olympic style! This is the number one seed (CAN) versus the number twelve seed (ITA).

==4:10am PST 0/0
ITA has come to play hockey! This is starting off to be a physical game with lots of action. Lots of long ice skating. Both teams are here to “take care of business.” Busy first period, lots of skating, fast start pushed on CAN by ITA. Brodeur is taking shots on goal as ITA comes out aggressive. Muzzatti, in goal for ITA, is seeing action as well as CAN responds to ITA’s energy.

==4:13am PST 1/0 CAN
Thomas Anderson calls the first penalty on ITA, CAN on first PP. CAN takes it right in, and asserts their authority, Bertuzzi fires a quick pass to Iginla who knocks it in for the first goal of the game.

==4:17am PST 1/0 CAN
Bertuzzi fires another one for CAN, Muzatti deflects. CAN knows how to work a PP. ITA now back at full strength, comes on full force. Loss puck chases predominate this refresh until Muzzati gloves the puck to slow down play.

==4:20am PST 1/0 CAN
Icing, let’s meet in the middle… CAN busy in ITA zone with everyone playing chase the puck. Muzzatti puts a stop to the shenanigans and gets everyone back in line. Penalty call on ITA, CAN back on PP for second time.

==4:28am PST 1/0 CAN
ITA thwarts CAN’s PP, leaving opportunity un-exercised. ITA’s Busillo breaks a stick, Muzzatti makes a save in the scramble. Lots of action in this first period. Another penalty, ITA and CAN both take one and wash the PP, both teams are even at four. The Olympic ice is a lot bigger with only four men. Brodeur gloves a save on a quick shot from ITA. CAN backs the puck into their own territory to regroup. Starts forward and launches an attack on ITA’s goal. ITA defenders hold off the charge. Muzzatti traps the puck to force a faceoff.

==4:32am PST 1/0 CAN
Both teams exhibiting their aerobic conditioning in a stellar exhibition of quick puck play and fast skating. Both goalies, ITA’s Muzzatti and CAN’s Brodeur, are getting a workout. Not to mention the amount of mileage the forwards for both teams are putting on their skates. CAN breaks, ITA foils, quick break back, Brodeur shoulders a save. Muzzatti holds for icing call, officials don’t agree, puck back in play. Good call, when the game is fast, let them play – wave off the less significant icing calls. Penalty on Trevisani-ITA, delay call, play stops. CAN back on PP.

==4:36am PST 1/0 CAN
ITA capitalizes on being short handed and fires a shot on goal, CAN’s Brodeur handles. CAN takes it back down, fires a shot, Muzzatti denies access. CAN keeps puck in ITA territory and hammers Muzzatti – he’s up to the task and defends ITA goal exhibiting skill and rink awareness. ITA has come out to fight and they are bringing it to CAN. Heatly-CAN pulls down a penalty and ITA goes on the PP with only 28 seconds remaining in the first period.

End period one, CAN leads 1:0. One would have thought this would be a take-away for the Canadians; Italy comes out hard illustrating they have a different agenda.

==4:53am PST 1/0 CAN
We’re back at it in the beginning of the second period. I hear the “Let’s get ready to ruuuuuummmmmbbbbbllleee!” announcer… NHL Players on roster: CAN 23, ITA none. Let’s get back to the action!

==4:55am PST 1/1
ITA PP for first 1:36 of second period. They come out firing and get one past Brodeur. ITA scores a PP goal.

==4:57am PST 2/1 CAN
CAN back at full strength levels the playing field and dominates in ITA territory. ITA caught in a change up and scores their second.

==5:04am PST 2/1 CAN
This period, after the initial frenzy of play, has slowed down a bit. Both teams are working the big olympic ice to the fullest. CAN drives down to ITA, push into the crease and a penalty is called on ITA. CAN goes on fourth PP again with another opportunity to extend their lead. CAN first several shots on goal, ITA defends. CAN continues to control the puck in ITA territory, Muzzatti stop play with a knee trap save. Muzzatti continues to handle shots on goal from CAN players. CAN controls PP puck but fails to convert the PP opportunity.

==5:05am PST 3/1 CAN
Doan spins a turnaround backhand past Muzzatti to score a third for CAN.

==5:08am PST 4/1 CAN
Nardella heads to the box after defending Muzatti, CAN fires in a screen shot past Muzzatti for a PP goal.

==5:11am PST 4/1 CAN
Brodeur catches up on some sleep while CAN continues to monopolize the puck deep in the territory of ITA giving Muzzatti a good workout.

==5:17am PST 4/1 CAN
CAN’s scoring response to ITA’s initial 2nd period PP goal has all but removed the crowd from the game. The rink is practically silent at this point. CAN maintains its dominance of the puck within the territory of the Italians. On a steal and fast breakaway ITA gives Brodeur a wake up call to which he successfully responds with a swift poke check to foil the play.

The aggressive, physical play from the first period has quieted down a bit. ITA has the puck in their territory and attempts to rally the crowd. Shot, deflected into the waiting crowd, play halted. ITA and CAN make it a race for the open puck contest, punching the puck back and forth over center ice.

==5:21am PST 5/1 CAN
A short, exciting battle for the puck behind Muzzatti results in a dislodged net to bring play to a halt. CAN continues to try to work the puck while the feisty ITA team pursues presses to make the game their own. After trading the puck over center ice, St. Louis fires one in for CAN.

==5:23am PST 6/1 CAN
CAN continues to push to the goal even with a four goal lead. Richards pokes another one in past Muzzatti making the socre 6.

==5:29am PST 6/2 CAN
ITA struggles to get the puck down into CAN territory. CAN defends and sends the puck back down to ITA’s end. ITA on the PP after a commercial break. On the PP they are able to keep the puck in CAN territory, giving Brodeur some exercise. Several shots on goal saved by Brodeur. ITA PP over, at full strength puck still controlled by ITA by CAN goal. Parco splits Brodeur’s legs to score an even strength goal bringing ITA to 2.

==5:33am PST 6/2 CAN
Both teams expending a tremendous amount of energy chasing. ITA gets a 3 on 2 opportunity which ends up over the glass. CAN gets puck, takes it down, there’s a pile up, centering pass, CAN doesn’t convert. Shots on goal stats, 39 to 14 CAN, Muzzatti getting quite the worwkout. Iginla content with 2 of 6 goals for CAN.

End of 2nd period.

==5:49am PST
Teams coming back on the ice for the third period.

==5:56am PST 7/2 CAN
Both teams come out energized, ready to skate. Muzzatti makes an early save of a shot from Nash. Muzzatti makes another stop. Brodeur takes a hard shot in the chest followed by a charge and CAN goes back on the PP. Takes the puck back into ITA territory and works off the boards angling for a shot. ITA throws a wrench in the CAN cog to foil the attempt. CAN controls face off and maintains ‘ownership’ of the puck. Cirone takes a hard knock killing the penalty and makes his way over to ITA bench. Thornton slaps one in for a seventh.

==6:07am PST 7/2 CAN
ITA steals and heads down to visit Brodeur. Penalty on CAN, ITA goes on PP. ITA takes a call for to many men canceling the penalty advantage. Both teams playing four man. Muzzatti takes one and completes the save. Referee visits ITA bench again for a discussion. ITA takes another to many men on the ice penalty offering CAN a four on three advantage. CAN takes it down, controls, fires, Muzzatti saves. CAN works the puck and fires, Muzzatti makes the stop to save again. CAN regains full strength on the five on four PP. Muzzatti takes one in the face mask and play stops. CAN working hard to keep puck in ITA territory. Both teams back at full strength. CAN continues to work the puck on the far side of the ice. CAN saves and keeps it in the defense zone of ITA. Shot, deflection by Muzzatti. Another shot, saved by Muzzatti.

==6:17am PST 7/2 CAN
Broduer bats one away. Richards gets a tripping call and takes a penalty for CAN, giving ITA the PP. ITA regroups and heads down. CAN steals and doesn’t get a shot on goal with the breakaway. Parco breaks away for ITA and drives to Brodeur. Fires, off the post, looks like Brodeur caught a bit of that one. ITA regains controls and moves puck back towards Brodeur. Shot, Brodeur handles and play continues. PP ends, ITA fires one off and Brodeur catches. Teams at full strength and the slap-n-chase continues. These guys are putting out a good effort today. ITA is not letting CAN rest. Scrap on center ice, ITA dumps it into CAN territory. CAN takes it away and heads back, Muzzatti pokes it away continuing to defend the ITA goal. Blocked up on the boards in ITA territory. Puck breaks free, ITA sends it full length and there’s an icing call. CAN controls, takes it in, wraps it around the boards, centers, Muzzatti deflects to far board. ITA dumps it down, CAN defenders bring it back up. ITA is not playing as though this game has a five goal spread. They are fighting hard and making CAN earn the game.

==6:30am PST 7/2 CAN
CAN takes it in and there’s a sticking call on ITA. CAN back on the PP. CAN keeps the puck in Muzzatti’s vicinity. Organizing for a drive, push, ITA deflects. CAN pushes back in and another deflection. Slashing, CAN puts one in the box and evens the teams out to a four on four. ITA has their best shooters on the ice, shot, into the mesh. Time is getting short as the third winds down. ITA makes a frantic push while they are on their PP. CAN defenders prevent penetration and that wraps this one up.

Great game! High energy and both teams fought the good fight. Hope you enjoyed the commentary. Have a good day.

Ciao…Turin, Mille grazie!